So Krejcikova wrote a letter to one of her idols, 1998 Wimbledon champion Jana Novotná, and left it at her home in her native Czech Republic. Novotná not only told Krejcikova that she had talent and that she should stick with the sport, but she also remained a mentor until she died of cancer in 2017.
“Before he passed away, he told me to go and win a Slam,” Krejcikova said.
How about two? Krejcikova was one Unseeded, surprise winner at French Open Three years ago and her trophy case was enhanced with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 win over Jasmine Paolini in the final at the All England Club. Immediately after Saturday’s match ended, Krejcikova went and saw her just-printed name on the Wimbledon champions list posted in the Center Court hallway – and saw Novotná’s name there too.
Krejcikova said of that moment, “The only thing that was going through my mind was that I miss Jana so much. It was very emotional. …I think he’d be proud.
Even after winning on her third match point, Krejcikova insisted that no one – not her friends, not her family, not even herself – would believe what she had achieved. After all, it was relatively unlikely, given that she battled back injuries and illness this season and her record was just 7-9 when she reached a grass-court major in 2024.
Krejcikova was 31st out of 32 seeded women at the All England Club. Then came a three-setter in the first round last week, adding to the doubts.
But by the end of the fortnight, seventh-seeded Paolini told Krejcikova: “You play very beautiful tennis.”
Krejcikova is the eighth woman to leave Wimbledon as champion in the last eight editions. Last year’s champion is also from Czech Republic: unseeded Marketa VondrousovaWho lost in the first round last week.
paolini, French Open runner-up to Iga Swiatek Last month, she became the first woman to reach the Roland Garros and Wimbledon finals in the same season since Serena Williams in 2016 – and the first woman to lose both since Venus Williams in 2002.
“If I maintain this level, I think I can have a chance to do great things,” said Paolini, 28, of Italy.
This match was as back-and-forth as it could be.
Appropriately, the last game took 14 points to decide, with Krejcikova needing to avoid few break opportunities. She finally converted her third match point when Paolini missed a backhand.
“I was just telling myself to be brave,” said Krejcikova, who also has seven Grand Slam titles in women’s doubles, including two at Wimbledon and three in mixed doubles.
She was very good early on, scoring 10 points out of 11 and five out of the first six games, as the crowd, perhaps expecting to see a more competitive contest, chanted “Forza!” Screaming, pulling harder for Paolini. (“Let’s go!”), the way she often does, or “Kalma!” (“Keep calm!”).
“She was getting the ball first and she was shaking me,” Paolini said.
Early on, Paolini looked very much like a man burdened with survivor fatigue Longest women’s semi-final in Wimbledon historyHer 2-hour, 51-minute victory over Donna Vekic on Thursday.
But after a trip to the locker room before the second set, Paolini took charge and controlled more lengthy baseline exchanges, while Krejcikova’s errors increased.
At 3-all in the final set, Paolini faltered, double-faulting her serve for the only time all afternoon. Krejcikova then held a 5–3 lead and was soon out of the championship, no matter how difficult the conditions.
During the trophy ceremony, as she did after her singles win in Paris in 2021, Krejcikova talked about Novotná’s influence on her tennis life – and her life in general.
Later on Saturday, at Krejcikova’s press conference, she said that Novotná often comes to her in her dreams. They would communicate with each other, he explained.
A reporter asked Krejcikova what she would like to say to Novotná now that they are both Wimbledon champions.
“Okay, I think I’ll change it,” Krejcikova said, smiling. “I’d like to hear what she has to say to me.”
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AP Tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
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